Ava Flanell

About

Firearms instructor, business owner, podcaster, and politician known for founding Elite Firearms & Training in Colorado Springs, hosting the Ava Flanell Show podcast, and for being appointed in 2025 to serve as a Colorado State House Representative for District 14.

Before fame

She attended Fordham University in New York City where she earned degrees in English and communications in three years. She worked for the New York Yankees after graduating college before returning to Colorado in 2012. She received her first formal shooting lesson from her mother in 2012 which sparked her interest in firearms training. She became a certified firearms instructor in 2013 and began building her career in the industry. She went on to found Elite Firearms & Training in late 2013. She launched the Ava Flanell Show podcast in 2017. She was selected to serve as a Colorado State House Representative in 2025 after a vacancy appointment and participated in legislative work during the 2026 session.

Trivia

She is certified in multiple NRA disciplines including pistol instruction, home firearm safety, and range safety. She received multiple industry honors in 2025 including being named Woman of the Year by Gun Owners of America's Empowered 2A program and receiving the Charlie Kirk Defender of Freedom Award. She has also appeared as a featured speaker at events such as the Gun Rights Policy Conference.

Family life

She was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado in a family involved in the firearms business. Her father is Mel Bernstein who is known for his involvement in the Dragonman firearms business, and her mother was Terry Flanell.

Associated with

She collaborated with Colion Noir in February 2020 when she interviewed and discussed firearms-related topics with him.